222Rn concentrations of water in the Balaton Highland and in the southern part of Hungary, and the assessment of the resulting dose

Abstract

In this study the 222Rn concentration of mains water in 120 settlements in Hungary (Southern Hungary, the Balaton Highland region) was measured. The average 222Rn concentration was 5.56 ( 0 – 24.3 ) Bq l - 1 . On the basis of the 222Rn concentration of mains water inspected in the Southern Great Plain region, it can be stated that the 222Rn concentration of mains water here is, as an average, half of the 222Rn concentration of fountains in the same region. This decrease in radon probably happens during the water management and storage of mains drinking water. The 222Rn concentration of spring-water examined in the region of the Balaton Highland exceeds the average 222Rn concentration of drinking water (average 27.1 Bq l - 1 ). The radiation dose originating from the consumption of mains drinking water in case of adults does not reach the value of 0.1 mSv year - 1 , even as a conservative assessment ( 1 l day - 1 water consumption and 10 - 8 Sv Bq - 1 dose conversion factor).